NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – The Back to School Brigade hit Norfolk Saturday, giving away free backpacks full of school supplies to military children.

Operation Homefront Mid-Atlantic collected the school supplies. Organizers say it’s a way to help military families who are dealing with deployments and other stresses of military life.

People across the area donated the backpacks, notebooks and other needed supplies so children are ready for the new school year.

“It helps out especially if you have a parent that’s deployed or some people, incomes are hard. It just makes it that much easier for people to be able to have that stuff for their kids to go to school,” said Valeria Oyler, a Navy wife.